Peoria Public Works -- September 23, 2011

David Barber, Director of Public Works for the City of Peoria, led OLLI on a tour of the city’s operations and maintenance facility on Dries Lane. Our visit included a look at the traffic control shop, the sign shop, and the maintenance garage, plus discussions with department managers and engineers to learn more about the city’s snow plan and capital projects.

For more information about the City of Peoria, please visit www.ci.peoria.il.us

Peoria County Coroner's Office -- September 22, 2012

On this trip, we learned about the responsibilities of Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll, an elected official charged with investigating sudden, unusual, and traumatic deaths and assuring those bodies are examined, identified, and, if necessary, autopsied.

Our visit included the observation of a jury inquest, which is held weekly to determine the manner of some deaths occurring in Peoria County.

Historic Fulton -- September 21, 2011

Situated along the bank of the Missisippi River just north of the Quad Cities, Fulton is know for its Dutch heritage. OLLI's visit included a tour of an authentic Dutch windmill, a walk through Heritage Canyon (an 1800s working village located inside a rock quarry), a tour of the Martin House Museum, and a tour and tasting at Lavender Crest Winery.

OLLI member David Conner, a Fulton native, accompanied our group to provide insight about his hometown.

Peoria Area Churches -- September 16, 2011

The third in OLLI's series of area church tours was held on September 16, and more than 30 members participated in the popular trip.

Throughout the day, we got a closer look at the beliefs, architecture, and history of First Baptist Church of Peoria, St. Thomas Catholic Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, and the Apostolic Christian Church.

Edward J. Barry Jr., Senior Architectural Manager for Farnsworth Group, Inc., accompanied the group to discuss the architectural highlights. Representatives from each church were also on hand to discuss the their congregational practices.

Thank you to OLLI member Shirley Cunningham for helping to organize the trip!

Federal Correctional Institution, Pekin -- September 15, 2011

On September 15, nearly two dozen OLLI members visited the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Pekin.

The FCI is comprised of a medium security facility housing male inmates and a minimum security satellite prison camp that houses male offenders. During our tour, Executive Assistant Marie Wynia. along with assistant wardens and other staff, guided us through the FCI and provided insight about the security, programming, and population of the prison.

For more information about the FCI, visit www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/pek/index.jsp

Fall Kickoff Luncheon -- September 14, 2011

More than 300 OLLI members attended the official kickoff to the Fall season on Wednesday with a luncheon at Bradley University's Michel Student Center.

Jerry Milam, a Peoria entrepreneur, musician, and photographer, shared many of his memorable stories and photographs in a presentation titled "Time Well Spent: Capturing a Lifetime in Photographs."

Fall classes take place on October 5, 12, 19, and 26 at Bradley University.

Toraason Glass -- September 8, 2011

One of OLLI’s most intriguing local favorites was back by popular demand! Nearly 20 OLLI members enjoyed an exclusive, up-close look at local artist Hiram Toraason’s 4,000-square-foot glass blowing studio and gallery.

Hiram, a graduate of Southern Illinois University who apprenticed under William and Katherine Berstein in Celo, North Carolina, demonstrated his techniques of working with 2,000-degree molten glass and created a one-of-a-kind work of art.

He also discussed his artwork at Peoria's Methodist Medical Center, which includes a wall sculpture of 240 pieces of hand-blown glass in the new $11 million Hamilton Boulevard entrance and glass flowers encased within lighted glass columns on the Methodist Foundation donor recognition wall.

For more information, please visit http://toraasonglass.com.

G&D Integrated -- September 7, 2011

Our first learning trip of Fall 2011 was a visit to G & D Integrated, a privately owned company headquartered in Morton, Illinois.

G & D provides extensive logistics services for clients across the globe. During our tour of its North American Track Assembly facility, we found out how the company works to identify and implement supply chain solutions that streamline operations, eliminate waste, and improve productivity.

For more information about the G & D, visit www.gdtr.com

Parsons Company -- August 25, 2011

The last summer learning trip of 2011 was a tour of Parsons Company in Roanoke, Illinois.

Parsons, which specializes in metal fabrication, precision machining, welding, assembly, and painting, has been a supplier to Fortune 100 manufacturers since 1971.

In 2004, the plant was destroyed by an F4 tornado, but all 150 employees survived, as they were protected by specially designed tornado shelters. Just eight months later, the company had rebuilt and was fully operational.

Our tour highlighted the processes of the company, as well as its story of determination in recovering from the tornado’s destruction.

For more information about Parsons, please visit www.parsonscompany.com

Vicksburg: Grant Moves South, Day 1

More than three dozen OLLI members began their 9-day exploration of major battlefields of the Vicksburg Campaign and related historic sites in the South today.

The first day of the trip featured explanations of the 1861 Battle of Belmont, which was Ulysses S. Grant's first Civil War battle. And, like General Grant, the group stayed in Paducah, Kentucky for one nigiht before continuing the journey south.

Bernie Drake, OLLI member and former President of the Peoria Historical Society Board of Directors, is accompanying the group to share his expertise.